Blackburn Rovers – Liverpool

1. Join us live at 17.15 BST as Blackburn look to lift themselves off the foot of the table.

2. Blackburn boss Mark Hughes has rung the changes at Ewood Park this evening as rock-bottom Rovers look to scramble off the foot of the Barclays Premiership by beating Liverpool. After successive four-goal hammerings by Middlesbrough and Chelsea, Hughes hands Jay Bothroyd and Jay McEveley their first starts of the season, while Nils-Eric Johansson ends a seven-game league exile.

3. The visitors know victory will take them into the top four and as expected Chris Kirkland, Sami Hyypia, Xabi Alonso and Djibril Cisse all returned after missing the midweek Carling Cup win at Millwall. However, Rafael Benitez has resisted the temptation to restore Harry Kewell (makes sense) and Luis Garcia (less so) to the Liverpool line-up - the high profile duo having to make do with a place on the bench.

4. The bootom side against the in-form team of the moment means only one outcome, surely. But then again, who'd have put money on Southampton getting something at Highbury and Pompey turning over Manchester United? Kick-off is but moments away...

5. Game gets started and a long Blackburn ball forward finds Dikov offside inside 10 seconds.

6. 1'

   Dickov, waspish and niggly as ever ppciks Josemi's pocket and looks to be away but is, quite harshly, pulled up for a foul.

7. 2'

   First shot of the game as the ball breaks to Ciise on the edge of the area. A wicked, swerving shot gives Friedel cause for concern but he takes it at the second chance.

8. 3'

   Blackburn have started the game as if heeding the words of their manager to be more firey in their approach.

9. 4'

   Great cross-field ball from Ferguson to Neill overlapping on the right. A fantastic, low curling cross is begging to be turned in but Dickov is a yard short with his slide in.

10. 5'

    Glorious chance for Baros. He found a huge gap between Short and Neill and a delicate ball from Alonso freed him one-on-one but Short did just enough to put him off and Freidel, out smartly, saved.

11. 6'

    This game has started at a lively pace and long may it continue.

12. 7'

    Even at this early stage it has been coming a bit. Riise given a criminal amount of space, a wonderful pass from Alonso and a second goal of the season. 1-0 Liverpool.

13. 8'

    Blackburn were at sixes and sevens with only half the back line trying to play the offside trap. Riise sprung it with the aid of an inch perfect diagonal ball before driving in on goal from the left and beating Friedel at his far post with a crisp, low, left-footed drive.

14. 10'

    Bothroyd almost undoes Liverpool with his height at a set play but can't direct the header once won.

15. 11'

    Blackburn started with a bit of gusto but, with Liverpool on top, that early optimism seems to have evaporated already.

16. 12'

    Liverpool stringing a lot of passes around the middle of the pitch and dominating that third of the pitch.

17. 14'

    Neat play between Baros and Cisse nearly sets up another chance. Baros flicked a firm pass wide right to Cisse and then took up a good position in the middle but the Frenchman's return ball wasn't good enough.

18. 15'

    Against the run of play Blackburn are back in it. Simplest of finishes for Bothroyd after good work from Dickov and Emerton. 1-1

19. 16'

    Josemi was at fault in letting Emerton sneek past him on the blind side but Dikov picked out the run with a fabulous ball before the Australian squared to an unmarked Bothroyd 10 yards out to side foot past Kirkland. Game on again.

20. 18'

    Dikov almost carved a chance for himself. A lofted ball into the box was brought down well but, as he turned, he didn't see how close Carragher was and the Liverpool man stole the ball and the chance.

21. 19'

    Just as the goal against them seemed to deflate Blackburn visibly; the goal they have scored has lifted them after they looked likely to be on the end of a battering from Liverpool.

22. 20'

    Ambitious angled ball forward from Traore is no trouble for Short who nods back to his keeper in an unfussy manner.

23. 21'

    Ferguson and Bothroyd exchange passes in the middle of the pitch before attempting to release Dickov in the box. The ball in will need to be better than that.

24. 22'

    Once more Emerton skips past Josemi as if he wasn't there. Blackburn will get some joy down the left if Josemi continues playing as badly as he is doing at the moment.

25. 24'

    Bothroyd shows fine touch to skip over a couple of challenges and setting up a Blackburn attack that breaks down due to a poor through ball from Emerton aimed at the eager running of Dickov.

26. 25'

    Referee has a word with Bothroyd, but no more than that, after a clumsy challenge on Traore rsults in a foul.

27. 27'

    Liverpool's front men try and close down the Blacburn back line but they keep their heads to play the ball forward and, after Bothroyd beat Hyypia in the air, a ball in to, again, Dickov gives him half a chance but no more. An attempt at an overhead kick doesn't come off.

28. 28'

    Blackburn looking the better team at the moment which is staggering after Liverpool started so explosively.

29. 29'

    Traore has to stretch his long legs to good effect in cutting out an angled through ball to Neill. Great last ditch defending.

30. 30'

    Forward pass lauched by Riise from the left back position finds Baros in oceans of space with no defenders for company but the Blackburn back line had stepped up together this time and caught the Czech striker well offside.

31. 31'

    Hopeful ball forward is well won on the left of the box by Bothroyd and his nod down almost sits up for Dickov before Hyypia steps in to tackle.

32. 32'

    With Johansson laid out injured baros was afforded an awful lot of space between midfield and attack. A one-two with Hamann, turn and shot from distance stings the palms of Friedel.

33. 33'

    Ciise is in a lot of pain. Tusseling with McEveley as the striker tried to get round the back of the defender, McEveley seemed to catch him on the back of ther leg as he fell. Innocent enough but Ciise is in agony.

34. 35'

    Huge hold up in the game as Ciise receives some much needed attention on the pitch. The stretcher was on quite quickly but his injury seems pressing enough to be dealt with where he has fallen.

35. 36'

    Garcia will replace Ciise who, on the evidence in front of me at least, will not be turning out fro Liverpool again any time soon.

36. 37'

    His leg has been padded, provided with a splint and at last he is stretchered off to a huge ovation from both sets of fans.

37. 38'

    So, the curse of Ewood Park strikes again for Liverpool as news starts to filter through that Ciise has broken his leg.

38. 39'

    And the match gets underway again.

39. 40'

    Hyypia over cooks a long ball forward and possession is conceded cheaply to Friedel.

40. 41'

    Baros does well to win back a ball he himself had lost and work it down the right flank, getting chalk on his boots. Unfortunately his eventual cross is over hit.

41. 42'

    Blackburn pressing the game still. They are dominating the midfield area but cannot break down a dogged Liverpool rearguard.

42. 43'

    Dickov, not for the first time, is pulled up for letting his aggression get the better of him in a challenge with Carragher. Interesting little battle those two are having.

43. 44'

    This time Dickov plays the unfamiliar role of victim as Josemi over ran a tackle on the Scot. Yellow card for Josemi further compounds a poor afternoon for him personally.

44. 45'

    What a turn around in this match. From 1-0 down and seemingly heading for a torrid afternoon Blackburn are now 2-1 ahead thanks to Emerton and some charitable defending from Liverpool.

45. 45'

    The chance looked to have passed by after Ferguson, benefiting from a deflection on a through ball, wriggled through a couple fo challenges in the box before Hyypia stepped in to clear up. But his pass to Josemi wasn't the best (nor was the Spaniard's awareness) allowing Emerton to spring him and stroke the ball wide of a diving Kirkland inot the far corner.

46. 45'

    Whistle goes on a half of entertaining football, marred only by a nasty looking injury to Cisse. Liverpool flew out of the blocks to take the lead but, after gaining confidence from a well worked equaliser against the run of play, Blackburn have been in the box seat - they seem to want it more - and are good value for their 2-1 lead.

47. 45'

    No further changes at the interval and Liverpool lick off the second-half.

48. 46'

    Bothroyd is clattered to set up a free-kick for Blackburn on the half way line. Hyypia out jumps Bothroyd but Blackburn come again and win a corner.

49. 47'

    Corner is swung over and bobbles through a crowded box to Johansson. His first effort is scuffed but the rebound comes back to him and he drags it wide of the target. Wasteful.

50. 48'

    Reid sets the tone for the half by flying in on Garcia. He clearly was going for, and got, the ball but the way he jumped in two footed angers the Liverpool fans.

51. 49'

    Baros unlucky not to find a way through two defenders out by the corner flag, Johansson getting the vital touch. Should have been a corner but goal-kick awarded bizarrely.

52. 50'

    Loose play from Short gives the ball to Alonso just outside the box, dead centre. He slips the ball to Garcia who skies it well over the bar but the referee calls back play for a foul on Alonso as he made the pass. Didn't look much of a foul.

53. 51'

    Alonso takes the kick himself, trying to lift the shot up and over the wall but only manages to hit it into the line of Blackburn men.

54. 52'

    Baros looks to try and con the referee. A lazy back pass is just strong enough to make it's way back to Friedel but Baros sets off after it. Realising he isn't going to get there he threw himself over Johansson who was looking the other way. Referee is unmoved by it all.

55. 53'

    This topsy-turvey game takes another twist as Baros latches on to a quick ball over the top to level the scores. 2-2 but I don't think that's the end of the scoring some how.

56. 54'

    A terrible pass from McEvley on the half-way line gave the ball to Finnan cheaply. He was aware enough to spot Baros on the shoulder of the last defender and just pop it over the top for him to chase. Baros held off the attentions of Short and calmly slotted the ball past Friedel from close range.

57. 55'

    Substitution for Liverpool sees Finnan make way for Kewell.

58. 56'

    Liverpool with their tails up again as they sieze control of the game once more.

59. 57'

    Riise wastes a good crossing position on the left by overhitting his ball with a number of red shirts waiting in good positions in the box.

60. 58'

    Dangerous play from Emerton as he passes back to his keeper from the half-way line with Baros waiting to pounce. Just evades the run of the Czech though.

61. 59'

    Awful challenge from Tugay on Baros as the Turk left his foot up long after the ball had gone. Rightly booked and it has been coming as Tugay seems to be losing his cool in the last few minutes.

62. 61'

    Electric atmosphere at Ewood Park as both teams feel they can go on and win this one.

63. 62'

    Josemi, still having a difficult time, lets a simple ball run under his foot and out of play.

64. 63'

    Not much football being played in the last few minutes as tough tackling and hastey clearances become the order of the day.

65. 64'

    Substitution for Blackburn brings Jon Stead into the fray at the expense of Bothroyd.

66. 65'

    Bad foul on Dickov by Traore perhaps should have drawn a caution but Dickov is up on his feet quickly and the referee takes no further action.

67. 66'

    Typical mazy, head down run from Baros. He came short to pick up the ball and then out ran Neill before checking inside him and cutting across the box. Garcia was well placed to receive a pass but Baros doesn't pass in those situations and he is eventually muscled out of it. Great run but he should have put arcia in.

68. 68'

    Stead, perhaps not up to speed in the game just yet, scythes down Alonso in the centre circle and is rightly booked.

69. 69'

    baros penalised for the use of a hand in the Blackburn box as he tried to control a difficult, bouncing ball.

70. 70'

    Niether tea able to retain possession for too long now. Tempers are fraying and the tackles are getting very fruity. Tugay again went in with a high foot on Baros and got what looked to be his final warning from the referee.

71. 71'

    Emerton gets the better of Josemi again - he has had the beating of him from start to finish - by driving down the left flank. Runs out of steam and space though towards the end and can't dig out a cross. Good run though.

72. 72'

    Kewell tries his look from distance and almost manages to curl his effort inside Friedel's far post but the American is the equal of it.

73. 73'

    At the other end Stead makes Kirkland work. Drifting wide on the left he then powered a drive from the corner of the box that was all the way a goal until Kirkland flung himself to his right and stretched a hand out to turn it wide.

74. 74'

    Tugay rode his luck and a couple of challenges just outside the box before a ricochet broke to Emerton whose fierce drive is watched it all the way into his arms.

75. 76'

    Alonso is lucky not to be booked. grabbing at Ferguson from behind he - unintentionally I think - caught Ferguson in the face with a clenched fist. Just a talking to from the referee this time.

76. 77'

    Blackburn corner exposes Liverpool's flawed zonal marking as Short is left unmarked to rise and power a header down past Kirkland. Fortunately for Liverpool Garcia was on the line to clear the danger.

77. 78'

    More confusion in the Liverpool box as Dickov hussled and harried until the ball broke to him six yards out. He shifted the ball to make a shooting angle but Kirkland remained big and imposing to block the goal bound effort.

78. 79'

    Blackburn siezing the initiative in these closing stages but it is still anyones for the taking.

79. 80'

    Liverpool make a change. Off goes Hamann to be replaced by Diao, presumably to strengthen a midfield battle that Liverpool have lost a grip on.

80. 82'

    Some sloppy, tired play creeping in now from both teams.

81. 83'

    Traore tries to wring some more from his tired body and storms down the left wing after a noe-two with Kewell. Showed great purpose to get their but couldn't add the guile to beat the last man and the ball runs for a goal-kick.

82. 84'

    Carragher almost plays his side into trouble. An overhit forward ball was all the way Kirkland's with no Blackburn men around but he still chose to head from his own penalty spot. Had the Blackburn forwards been more alert they may have benefited from the poor communication.

83. 85'

    Friedel pulls off the save of the match to preserve parity. Garcia twisted and turned bamboozeling the Rovers defence until he created a shooting chance, 18 yards out slightly to the left of centre. The rasping, rising shot was too strong for the keeper to hold but he showed strong hands to parry it away.

84. 87'

    Blackburn defenders are looking increasingly nervous as Liverpool take their turn to force the issue in the home side's half of the pitch.

85. 88'

    Reid lost out in a challenge with Kewell on the half way line and the Australian set off to run at the Blackburn defence. Just as he looked to have found a way through Neill got back to amke an important tackle at the expense of a corner.

86. 89'

    Corner flashes through the six yard box but no one is able to put the final touch on it.

87. 90'

    Chance for Liverpool to snatch it at the death. Garcia turned inside from the right and swung a ball to the far post. It found its way to Kewell on the left and his shot-come-shot was drilled along the six yard line where Hyypia was only an inch away from turning it in.

88. 90'

    At that's the end of it. A high octane, blood and thunder match comes to and end with honours even. Both sides went at it like it was a cup game and the entertainment level was cranked right up because of it. Both sides will feel they could have won it but a draw was about fair.

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